Cigarette case



J. E. NAUGLE CIGARETTE CASE Feb, 4, 941.

2 Sheetst 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1939 doll/V5 5 Z6 Feb. 4, 1941. J. E. NAUGLE 2,230,625

CIGARETTE CASE 2119a Aug. 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 STATES CIGARETTE CASE Johnson E. Naugle, Sterling, Colo.

Application August 22 17 Ciaims.

This invention relates to a cigarette case, and more specifically one that is adapted to be used for carrying cigarettes on the person of the user. In addition to this, it provides means permitting the transverse severing of a package of cigarettes when inserted in the casing, whereby after the same are severed the user will have twice the number of cigarettes as there were originally.

In addition to the foregoing, one of the main objects of the invention is to provide means whereby half length cigarettes are made available for users who desire to reduce their nicotine intake due to the fact that twice as many cigarette butts will result from one pack of cigarettes when the instant device is used over the number resulting from the standard pack of cigarettes as normally smoked. With this device it is proposed that so-called chain smokers will benefit.

Furthermore, the matter of the number of cigarettes smoked in one day is usually a question of habit, in that a smoker somewhat trains himself to have certain lengths of intervals between smokes during the day, such as one smoke 25 an hour. Frequently several satisfying inhalations from a cigarette are suflicient to satisfy a smoker, following which he will Wait the next interval. It will be seen that under these circumstances, by using the instant invention, less total smoking will be done by most smokers since they will only be permitted to obtain a relatively few number of inhalations from one of the half cigarettes as distinguished from a whole one as normally smoked.

Carrying this idea further forward, a, smoker will usually smoke a cigarette down to a certain length and then throw the butt away. In View of this, smoking a half cigarette to the usual length of butt will result in the user smoking 40 less of the total tobacco in a standard pack of cigarettes and thus the user will be materially benefited by the decreased nicotine intake.

Furthermore, when a cigarette is smoked, the smoke, gases, distillates and the like taken into the mouth first pass through the unburned portion of the cigarette. In traversing this portion, certain condensations take place, leaving varying amounts of the injurious material resulting from smoking in the unburned portion. Thus, if there are twice as many unburned portions resulting from a cigarette which will absorb the injurious products of combustion of a cigarette, it will be seen that the smoker will take into his mouth substantially only half as much of these injurious products when using ciga- 19-39, SeriaINO. 291,413

rettes severed in the applicants device as he would 'when smoking a cigaretteof the normal length.

-By the use of applicants device, all of the foregoing meritorious results will be obtained and, in addition'to this, economy in the cost of cigarettes will be =efiected, in that uanormal pack of cigarettes will, for instance, last i a more or less habitual smoker twice aslong.

These -and other objectsofithe invention, and v the means for their attainment willbemore apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette case in closed or carrying position;

Figure 2 is an end view of the device showing the combined closure and cutter;

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the casing open atone end in position to receive a pack of cigarettes;

Figure 4 shows a pack of cigarettes being severed;

"Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of Figure 1, showing the casing in locked position and containing a pack of cigarettes;

Figure 6 is'a sectional elevation on 6-6 of Figpure 5;

Figure 7 shows the opened casing containing a severed pack of cigarettes ready for use;

Figure 8 is a sectional detail of the knife guard;

Figure 9 is a sectional detail of the latch for thecasing; and

Figure 10 is a sectional detail of the latch for the closure and knife.

The construction of the-present invention includes a casing Ill comprising two halves or sections II and I2 which are pivoted along one side by a hinge l3. The abutting edges of the two sections in cutting position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, may, in the preferred embodiment, be spaced as at I4 for purposes of accommodating a knife hereinafter described.

The casing at one end is left open as shown at 5 and through this is inserted a standard pack of cigarettes It. The pack is then secured within the casing by means of a combination closure and cutter element I1, details of which are most clearly shown in Figure 4. This combination element is L-shaped, the closure part I8 having a portion thereof cut out so that the remainderis .Ueshaped and between the legs-of the U is mounteda removable cutting the line blade [9. The blade may be secured in the U- shaped part in any convenient manner, but in the preferred embodiment is frictionally received in slots 20 in the inner walls of the legs of the U-shaped portion. The replaceable blade may conveniently be a standard type of razor blade, although any other suitable blade element may be used.

The other part of the L of the combination closure and cutter member is designated 2| and comprises a handle means for the knife as well as means to retain the closure portion of the L in enclosing position.

Along one side, as best shown in Figures 3 through 6, the casing is provided with a flat, hollow space 22. This space in the casing section having the open end freely accommodates part 2| of the combination member and thus serves to retain the closure part l8 over the open end of this section of the casing. Furthermore, the free end of the closure part I8 is provided with a latching projection 23 shown in Figures 4 and '10, which is engaged in a latching depression 24, shown in Figure 3, formed adjacent the end of a resilient tongue 25 in one side wall of the open ended section. This tongue may preferably be formed by forming two small slots in the wall and the resiliency of the material will normally be suificient to permit the proper operation of the latching depression 24, although a separately attached tongue and latch may be used.

Combination element I! is also provided near the bend of the L with finger engaging means 26 arranged one on either side whereby, when the tongue 25 is depressed to unlatched position such as by inserting a finger nail between the tongue and the outer end of part 18, the finger engaging means 26 may be engaged to readily remove the closure and cutter from the space 22 as well as the casing section.

The closure and knife part l8 in the preferred embodiment also has a pivoted guard 21 attached thereto adjacent the outer end of part l8 by a suitable pivot 28, which pivot, preferably, frictionally holds the guard in any adjusted position. If desired, the bearing of the guard which surrounds the pivot 28 may be split as at 29 whereby the resiliency of the material will permit the sides of the bearing to movably but frictionally engage the pivot.

It will be seen, especially in Figure 1 but more particularly in Figure 8, that when the closure part 18 is in closed position, the width of the part 18 is such that it is received between the edges of the walls of the casing section. Even the outer side of the guard. 21 is' preferably just flush with the end of the wall of the section, as shown in Figure 8 especially, and the only portions which might be considered exposed at all are the finger engaging means 26. Thus a neat and efficient closure means is provided which does not offer protruding elements that might accidentally rip or tear a pocket in which the case is carried.

The casing is also provided with additional latching means for holding the two pivoted sections of the casing in closed position, as shown in Figure 1. This latching means consists of a tongue 30 integral with the free end of part 2| of the combination element 11. The part 21 is of suiiicient length as shown in Figure 5 to permit the latch 30 to extend beyond the inner edge of the section l2 and be received in the inner end of the space 22 in section I I when the closure part is is in closed position in the end of the casing section. Within this space 22 of section II is secured a leaf spring 3| having a latching detent 32 formed at the outer end thereof and. adapted to cooperate with the latch 33 of the combination element il The leaf spring 3| also has a finger engaging button 33 formed on the upper side thereof projecting through a suitable aperture in the side of the casing section II, whereby when the button 33 is depressed the latch detent 32 disengages the latch 30 and permits either the combination element I! to be removed, or the casing sections to be pivotally swung apart, but the latter only after the pack of cigarettes has been severed by the knife part It). Thus it will be seen that the latch'members 30 and 32 serve a dual purpose, namely, of retaining the combination element ll and closure part l8 in closed or assembled position and also locking the two pivoted sections II and I2 in closed position. The dimensions of the latch, however, are such that when the sections l land 12 are latched in closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the adjacent edges of the sections are preferably spaced adjacent the hinge to permit the insertion of knife blade l9, but the adjacent edges of the walls opposite the hinged walls abut. Once the sections are unlatched and the combination element 1'! removed, the adjacent edges of the sections may be moved apart sufficiently to permit the insertion of the blade I!) for the full width of the casing to sever the cigarettes. If desired, as a modification of the above, the adjacent edges of all walls of the casing sections may be spacedwhen latched closed.

Means are also provided to eliminate dulling of the knife blade when severing the pack of cigarettes and especially when the edge of the knife is approaching the hinge l3. These means consist of notches 34 arranged in .the corners of opposite sides of the casing sections II and I2 adjacent the hinge [3. These notches are clearly shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7. The space thus afforded by the notches accommodates any suitable sort of element 35 which is preferably of non-edge-dulling material. This element may be a tooth pick, match stem, either wood, pasteboard or the like, or any other small sliver of suitable dimensions and composition which, when inserted and engaged by the knife, will not dull the edge thereof. be used, such as lead, although it is more practical to use readily obtainable elements such as tooth picks, match stems and. the like.

7 Once the package of cigarettes has been seve ered and the casing sections II and I2 swung back to the position shown in Figure 7, the half cigarettes are ready to be removed and smoked. Removal of these cigarettes is facilitated by the provision of additional notches 36 provided in opposite walls of the casing in the adjacent edges of the two sections. The uppermost end of the cigarette adjacent any of the notches 36 may be grasped by the fingers of the user and removed. After the first cigarette has been thus taken out, removal of the remainder is relatively easy.

The present embodiment of the invention lends itself to having one-half of the pack of cigarettes used at a time, the other half of the pack remaining intact until such time as the first half has been totally consumed. At the time the first half-has been consumed, this half of the entire cigarette package may be removed and turned end for end so that'the factory sealed end of the cigarette package will then be uppermost in Soft metal, for instance, mayone half of the casing in the position shown in Figure 7, and "when the sections are pivoted together in closed position, this end of the package just referred to willengage the severed ends of the cigarettes in the other half of the package and hold them in proper position. By using half of the package of cigarettes at atime, one half will remain intactand serve to retain the half cigarettes of the other part of the package in proper position in the casing.

If desired, "after one half of the package of cigarettes has been consumed, an opening may be torn in the end of the aforementioned inverted empty half package through which suitable wadding, blotting paper or similar material may be insertedand moistened to maintain'humidity in 'the'remaining cigarettes in the other section of the casing.

he casing itself and most of the cooperating means and elements maybe formed of any suitable material. From a practical standpoint the preferred material is either metal, Celluloid, phenolic condensate resins, or any other suitable moldable, plastic materials either of natural or synthetic'origin. Many casings of various sorts including cigarette cases'are now formed of various types of moldable plastics and the construction of the instant invention is such that it will lend itself readily to beingformed of some such plastic. Preferably, leaf spring 3| may be formed of metal as wellas 'the'blade I9, but even the leaf 'springBi maybe of a suitable resilient plastic and if made thin enough will serve as satisfactorily as metal.

'In addition to the meritorious benefits obtained by using the applicants device, the following is also worthwhile; namely, that in smoking half length cigarettes, many smokers will no doubt prefer to use a cigarette holder and by using one of the many filter type holdersat present on the market, the user will be thus further benefited.

While the foregoing comprises'a description of the preferred embodiments of the instant invention, the same in its broader aspects is not limited to-the specific mechanisms-shown'and described, but'departuresmay be made'therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing-from the principles of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

I claim:

1. A-cigarette package container comprising a bipartite, hinged casing to receive a package of cigarettes and means on certain wallsof said casing to accommodate a severing tool to sever the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes in the package, one end of said casing being removable to receive a packageof cigarettes.

2. A cigarette package container comprising a bipartite casing divided transversely of its longest dimension to receive a package of cigarettes, the sections of the casing being pivoted together, the adjacent edges of said sections being adapted to receive a knife, whereby the package and cigarettes within the casing may be severed transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein.

3. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a standard package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest dimension into sections, the adjacent edges of the sections being adapted to receive a cutting tool therebetween, whereby the package of cigarettes is severed transversely of the longitiidinalaxes of the cigarettes therein, 'two adjacentsides of the sections being pivoted together "and the otherfsides at theiradjacent edges being longest dimension into sections, the adjacent edges of the sections being adapted to receive a cutting tool the'rebetween whereby the package of cigarettes is severed transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivoted together and the other sides at their adjacent edges being spaced adjacent the pivot to accommodate the tool, said casing having latch means to normally retain the two pivoted sections in package enclosing position.

5. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigaretees, said casing being divided transversely of its longest axis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being p-ivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein.

6. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest axis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes close said open end and upon removal, beingreceivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L- shape, one part thereof forming the closure, one

edge of said part comprising the knife, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife.

8. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longestaxis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transverselyof the longitudinal axes of the ci arettes therein,-said combination knife and clotions being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L-shape, one part thereof forming the closure, one edge of said part comprising the knife, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife, said casing having means to retain the closure part in closed, position comprising a latch on the casing to engage the outer end of the closure part.

10. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest axis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon re moval, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L-shape, one part thereof forming the closure, one edge of said part comprising the knife, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife, said casing having means to retain the closure part in closed position comprising a latch on the casing to engage the outer end of the closure part, and additional latch means on the casing to normally look the casing sections in closed position.

11. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest axis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severin of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L-shape, one part thereof forming the closure, one edge of said part comprising the knife, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife, said casing having means to retain the closure part in closed position comprising a latch on the casing to engage the outer end of the closure part and additional latch means on the casing to normally look the casing sections in closed position comprising coengaging members, one arranged on one section of the casing and the other formed on the outer end of the knife handle of the combination knife and closure means.

12. A cigarette package container comprising to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L-shape, one part thereof forming the closure, one edge of said part comprising the knife, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife, said casing having means to retain the closure part in closed position comprising a latch on the casing to engage the outer end of the closure part and additional latch means onthe casing to normally lock the casing sections in closed position comprising coengaging members, one arranged on a leaf spring provided on one side of one of the casing sections and the other formed on the outer end of the knife handle of the combination knife and closure means, said leaf spring also having a finger engaging button thereon to release the latch to permit the opening of the casing sections.

13. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest axis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing to normally close said open end and upon removal, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L-shape, one part thereof forming the closure and also comprising the knife including a removable blade section, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife.

14. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest axis into sections, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivotally joined, one end of the casing being open to form an inserting means for the package of cigarettes, a combination knife and closure means removably attached to said casing moval, being receivable between the sections to effect severing of the package of cigarettes transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, said combination knife and closure means being L-shaped, one part thereof forming the closure and also comprising the knife including a removable blade section, the other part thereof comprising a handle for the knife, the knife part also having a guard pivoted thereon adapted to swing alternately to blade exposing or guarding positions.

15. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a standard package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest dimension into sections, the adjacent edges of the sections being adapted to receive a cutting tool therebetween whereby the package of cigarettes is severed transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivoted togetherand the other sides at their adjacent edges.

being spaced to accommodate the tool, one wall of each of the sections having a notch formed in the edge adjacent the opposite section whereby when the cigarette package is severed and the sections pivoted to open position, removal of the first cigarette is facilitated by permitting the end thereof adjacent said notch in that section to be grasped by the user after tearing away the portion of the package adjacent said notch.

16. A cigarette package container comprising a casing to receive a standard package of cigarettes, said casing being divided transversely of its longest dimension into sections, the adjacent edges of the sections being adapted to receive a cutting tool therebetween whereby the package of cigarettes is severed transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes therein, two adjacent sides of the sections being pivoted together and the other sides at their adjacent edges being spaced to accommodate the tool, the opposed side walls of the sections adjacent said hinge being notched in the corners to permit the insertion of an element of non-edge-dulling material, whereby the cutting tool, when severing the cigarettes, will not contact the hinge and be dulled thereby.

17. A two-part rectangular container adapted to receive a conventional package of cigarettes, said parts being substantially similar and open-ended, the two parts having their open ends in juxtaposition to define a plane dividing said container transversely of its longitudinal axis, one of said parts having one wall open, and knife means carried by the container and forming a detachable closure for said open wall, said knife when detached, being adapted to operate in said plane between said parts to sever cigarettes contained in said container into a plurality of parts.

JOHNSON E. NAUGLE. 

